The seventh series of the award-winning US drama Mad Men has been split into two parts - the first part has just aired, with the final seven episodes to be broadcast in 2015.

Weiner said the two-part season would enable "a more elaborate story'' to be told.

Previous seasons of Mad Men have spanned 13 episodes.

The decision to split the last season and delay the finale follows the strategy US cable network AMC took with its other successful drama, Breaking Bad, whose final season was also divided into two parts.

Mad Men, which began in 2007 and stars Jon Hamm as ad man Don Draper, has won four Emmy awards for outstanding drama series.

Weiner was previously a writer on The Sopranos. He recently wrote and directed his first feature film, You Are Here, starring Owen Wilson, Zack Galifianakis and Amy Poehler, which will open later this summer.

Last year's International Emmy Founders Award went to Star Wars director, JJ Abrams.